Friar Lawrence is to blame due to his lacking plan of faking Juliet’s death.

Given by Juliet’s rationalization in

act 4 scene 3 line 34-36, “Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, To whose foul mouth no healthsome air
breathes in, And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?” This quote shows that the Friar’s plan is
incredibly risky, since if Romeo came late Juliet could just suffocate in that tomb. Moving further into risk and
adding what actually happened, which was the failure of delivering news about the plan given by act 5 scene
3 line 14 “I could not send it—here it is again—” really influenced Romeo’s action because he thought that
Juliet was dead, leading to Romeo killing himself. (In act 5 scene 3 line 120, “Here’s to my love.​ [Drinking.]​ O
true apothecary, Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.”) All of this could’ve been easily solved with plans
such as just helping Juliet escape town, telling the Capulets that Romeo and Juliet are married, forcing them
to come to this realization, or just engaging more in the plan(through means such as delivering the message
himself, making a opening in the tomb, etc.) Pulling it all together I think this show how people are blind to
details in pursuit of their expectation. The Friar created the plan and didn’t do anything after that, as he
thought it was going to work out. Because the Friar was so focused on getting Romeo and Juliet back
together(not to say he didn’t have any self-motives for doing this), he missed the faults of his own plan, liked
said above with how Juliet could’ve suffocated or how the letter might not be delivered, and that’s not to
mention the faults of what if the plan succeed, like what would Juliet do if someone found her alive? Relating
this to life, it all shows how little people see as they miss the gorilla in the basketball court.

Counter Argument
I disagree with your claim that the Friar should be blamed for knowing the couple was married and giving
Juliet the potion. Based on your claim the nurse should get the blame more as she knew about the marriage
and did nothing to help at the end as she just left Juliet to marry Paris, while the Friar, made an effort to
secure her happiness with Romeo. In act 2 scene 6 line 73-74 the nurse says “Then hie you hence to Friar
Lawrence’ cell. There stays a husband to make you a wife.” Obviously saying that she knows about the
marriage and supporting of it, as she is telling Juliet where to go. In act 3 scene 5 line 230-232 the nurse saids
“I think it best you married with the County. O, he’s a lovely gentleman! Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle,
madam,” saying to Juliet to go marry Paris when she is in love with Romeo. While the Friar helped Juliet when
she was desperate and ready to kill herself (“If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, Do thou but call my
resolution wise, And with this knife I’ll help it presently.” Act 4 scene 1 line 53-55), providing her with a idea to
rid her sadness in act 4 scene 1 line 95 “Take thou this vial, being then in bed,” line 100-101 “No warmth, no
breath shall testify thou livest. The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade” by faking her death and getting
back to Romeo. Overall the potion the Friar gave to Juliet was a good thing in the current setting of the scene,
as it provided hope that she would get back to Romeo. If he would’ve not done it, she would’ve been married
to Paris, as there weren’t anyone else to help her. Showing the importance of this through the lesson it
portrays, of how if a person is desperate and if a savior comes, they would do anything.